Jets know the drills but scrimmages count, too

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This article was published 22/07/2020 (1877 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If Connor Hellebuyck was one of those kids who compulsively asked, “Hey coach, are we scrimmaging today?” he certainly isn’t that way now.

The Winnipeg Jets all-star goalie says he’s far more able to fine-tune his skills during structured drills rather than simulated games with his teammates.

“I like drills more, personally. Scrimmage for me — especially everyone right now is battling and they’ve got a lot of energy — isn’t the feel that I want,” Hellebuyck said Wednesday, after the NHL squad’s on-ice workout at the Iceplex. “I almost wanted to try to dominate at the hardest points of my game, which is lots of shots, and two-on-ones and three-on-twos and breakaways and things that are very difficult for a goaltender, that the scoring percentages are higher.

“So, I like to try to dominate those, and then that will just transition into the game for me.”

And the Vezina Trophy nominee for his stellar work during the interrupted 2019-20 season is finding things much to his liking, through 10 days of summer training camp as the Jets prepare for the best-of-five “play-in” series with the Calgary Flames.

Game 1 is set for Saturday, Aug. 1 (9:30 p.m. CT) at Rogers Place in Edmonton, one of two hub cities for the NHL playoffs.

Winnipeg had a full scrimmage last Friday and then spent the final 20 minutes of Tuesday’s practice in a mock game. That’s fewer than several teams also preparing for the playoffs. The Toronto Maple Leafs, for example, are in the midst of a best-of-five intrasquad tournament, while the Flames have indicated their third full scrimmage goes today.

The Jets have been running puck-retrieval drills, breakouts and odd-man rushes, while working on special teams — all with optimal speed in mind. There’s not much real teaching to be done at this point; it’s more about quickening the pace, sharpening instincts and cementing their schemes.

Winnipeg’s bench boss maintains there are more scrimmages to come.

“We’ll have six (scrimmages), counting the exhibition game (July 29). The scrimmages are valuable if they’re (played) at a certain pace,” said Maurice. “And the minute that they come off of that pace, where they’re… how do I explain this better to you… hockey is not a sport you can playfight in. It’s kind of like when you’re with your brother, you start by kind of pushing and then the next minute, you’re throwing haymakers. There’s no playfighting in hockey.

“So, you can go out and get a scrimmage in, but the minute you come off of that, it hurts you. We’re going to get probably the same number of scrimmages that some teams get in, we won’t go quite as long and we won’t go a full game, we’ve got three lines on each side.”

Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey said even with the repetitiveness of drills, the intensity level from the group hasn’t subsided.

“We’re not usually in a situation where we’re practising this long in a row, without games to break it up. But everyone understands this is a unique situation and that we only have three weeks to really get ready to go for playoff-calibre hockey. Everyone’s been taking it seriously,” said Morrissey.

“I’m sure after a few days it’d be nice to go against someone who’s not your buddy. I’m sure the forwards are tired of the (defence) and the (defence) are a little tired of the forwards and the goalies are probably tired of everyone shooting at their head. It’ll be nice to get into games. But given the circumstances I think we’ve been able to keep pushing during camp and continuing to build as we’ve gone along here.”

Hellebuyck and his creasemate, Laurent Brossoit, have faced a barrage of rubber during the recurring drills orchestrated by Maurice and the rest of his staff. Skaters have picked up their acceleration since last week, and shots are coming in with added velocity.

Winnipeg’s starter, who posted a 31-21-5 record with a 2.57 goals-against average and .922 save percentage before the March shutdown owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, said he’s addicted to the work.

“At this point, I have a lot of my game that I really like. Now, it is time to ramp it up. It’s time to start forgetting about thinking the game and start performing the game. And I mean, putting full energy to just making saves. And over and over again, and battling on pucks,” said Hellebuyck. “I got my game and now I’m trying to get my battle level up, and once that preseason comes along, I should be fully prepared, but to get a full 60 minutes under the belt should be a nice preparation going into the playoffs.”

Indeed, he’ll guard the net when Winnipeg faces off against the Vancouver Canucks next Wednesday in the clubs’ only exhibition test before the postseason begins.

Unlike during a traditional preseason when some veterans would rather watch from the pressbox, to a man the 32 players participating in camp would be quick to put their hands up if asked to play, said Morrissey

“I think we’ve had a competitive camp and guys have been working really hard. But it’s not the same going against your teammates. So, I think (facing the Canucks) will be great. Also, obviously understanding that there’s just one game to tune your game up,” he said

“In the preseason most guys will play a few games and, depending on how you look at it, for much of the regular season you’re building all the way through to the playoffs. So, we kind of have one day to do that and I think it’ll be fun to just get out there and guys will be taking it seriously to get up to speed as fast as possible.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell